Tangle with Fire (eBook)

Theresa Gage (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2023 | 1. Auflage
308 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-1650-8 (ISBN)

Infos

'Tangle with Fire' is an engrossing coming-of-age tale following the journey of a mischievous 15-year-old, Aidan, who after witnessing his father's murder and the awakening of his magical abilities, has to protect his family and kingdom from a formidable, power-thirsty sorcerer.

---

In "e;Tangle with Fire"e;, Theresa Gage weaves a captivating tale about Aidan, a notorious 15-year-old known more for his pranks and fibs than his heroism. Aidan's life takes a sudden, dark turn when he witnesses the murder of his father by a mysterious man who subsequently vanishes. This tragedy sparks the manifestation of magic within Aidan, forcing him to grow beyond his impulsive nature and accept an unforeseen responsibility-protecting his family and kingdom from an ambitious sorcerer. This coming-of-age novel portrays Aidan's struggle to manage his newfound powers, grapple with disbelievers, and outsmart a series of foes attempting to suppress the truth of the deadly conspiracy. As Aidan navigates this perilous journey to manhood, he must confront a potential war and deal with a dire family crisis. Gage masterfully crafts an exhilarating narrative filled with adventure, mystery, and personal growth that is bound to captivate the reader from start to finish.

Textauszug

Chapter One

Planet Xan, year 2150

I rubbed the knot on the back of my head as I stood on the bridge that overlooked the

Hope River and stared at the water while waiting for my friend. Clouds blocked the light of the red sun-like star, and pink and lavender colors tinted them. The breeze tousled my hair as I inhaled the fresh air and listened to the Harmony Waterfalls that plunged two hundred and seventy feet through a gorge near the south end of the bridge. Dad generated electricity from the falls for the realm. I wished that power belonged to me. Then I’d show that bully what I was made of.

How many times must I ask Mother to allow me to learn fighting skills? Her answer was always no. For some stupid reason she wanted me scholarly and my brother brawny. If I knew how to fight like the warriors, maybe I would get respect from the men and not called a wuss behind my back. I had to survive. Didn’t she understand? I wanted to be accepted.

Did Mother know how Santurin treated me? If she did, she probably didn’t care. I couldn’t do anything right in her eyes and my brother could do no wrong. Someday Santurin will be king. Where did that leave me? My future looked bleak. Where is my place in this world?

Voices startled me, and I thought Santurin and his friends were after me again. Didn’t I sustain enough bruises for one day?

I turned around and saw my friend, Varick stroll outside. But his Aunt Darshana and my mother walked out with him! That wasn’t the plan.

I didn’t want to hear Mother’s prattle about my studies. Today I wanted to relax. I grabbed Varick’s arm and dragged him to the stairs away from the women. Mother called my name, but I blocked her out, and ran down the stairs.

Two rowboats waited in the river with a guard standing by. “Good day, My Prince. What mischief are you up to?” Sir Jayel asked. His cheeks rosy from the crisp air, he was a roly-poly man that rotated stations, according to what Dad needed for the day.

“We’d like to take one of the boats out and do a little fishing,” I said.

“Good show. Take the red one. It’s equipped with fishing gear already. King Arin reeled in a fat trout this morning, Perhaps, you’ll do one better, hey?” Sir Jayel said.

“Is that a bet?” Varick asked.

Varick loved to gamble and play games. It’s probably the reason we got along. Maybe I should have bet Santurin we would bring in a bigger fish than him? And if we didn’t, he would never let it down. I shook my head. After hours of studying, I developed a headache, and Santurin punching me didn’t help any. If I told Dad, I’d be known as a squealer. I got called enough names without that.

“Come on, Varick. Forget your bets,” I said. “I get limited free time without Mother caging me like a pet bird.”

Varick climbed inside the rowboat after me and Sir Jayel pushed us out. I grabbed an oar and paddled us further out. Waterfowl flew over with their incessant squawks and cries. We found an area away from the other fishermen and pulled in our oars. My father had stocked the river with various fish. My grandfather had brought some species from Earth.

We skewered a worm on each of our fishing hooks, then cast out our lines, and waited for a fish to bite. It didn’t take long before Varick got a nibble. I grabbed the net while Varick reeled in his line. He looked hysterical with his tongue protruding through his teeth and his eyes nearly crossed as he struggled with the weight of the fish.

“Help me, Aidan. It’s bending the rod,” Varick said.

I set the net down and placed my hands over his on the fishing rod. We tugged and pulled, yet that fish didn’t give up. We kept at it, even though our arms ached. The fish took the line out more and Varick reeled it back in. It was like a game. Give a little, pull back, out more, pull back. Finally, we yanked the biggest freshwater bass into the boat, and it flopped around. While Varick held it down, I removed the hook from the fish’s mouth. Varick dropped the bass inside the wicker basket.

“Nice one.” I felt a bit jealous. I hoped to reel in my own that surpassed Varick’s prize.

The boat rocked with the waves of the river. It almost lulled me to sleep. My thoughts wandered. What position could a second son of a king have? Mother wanted me to become a scholar. That didn’t interest me. Reynard, the high priest said they always needed more high priests, but I didn’t see myself that way either. I wouldn’t mind becoming a soldier. That wouldn’t sit well with Mother, and I didn’t know a thing about warrior skills or how to fight.

I don’t know how long we sat waiting for a bite, but it seemed an hour passed. I stood and stretched. Varick pointed behind me. My fishing pole skidded across the floor. I raced over and grabbed it. Something weighed my pole down. I pulled and reeled my line in several times but couldn’t get that damn fish. I leaned closer to the water.

“Let it go, Aidan before it breaks the fishing rod!” Varick yelled.

“Why? So, you can brag how you best me? No way.” I kept struggling with the fish.

Then the unspeakable thing happened. The fish jerked me in the river, and my pole slipped from my hands. The cold, frigid water took my breath away. Water splashed my face as I wrestled to breathe. I bobbed up and down as the current dragged me further away from home.

I reached for a boulder and missed. “Wretched rock!”

“Aidan!” Varick called. “I’ll get help.” Instead of rowing to me, Varick paddled back to the dock.

“Don’t leave me!” I shouted.

He probably didn’t hear me. I should have listened to Varick and wouldn’t find myself in this predicament. I had to save myself or die trying. Who knew how long help might arrive? Certainly not my brother to the rescue. He’d probably love to get rid of me.

I could hear it now; Aidan couldn’t even stay in a boat and catch a simple fish. Probably thought he could outsmart it. Probably faked his death too.

The river rose higher than normal with the rainy season upon us. The shoreline flooded in some areas. I was a speck in the belly of the river and rode high on the crest of a wave. I attempted to swim out of it, but floundered, and the river laughed as it pulled me downstream.

Nothing but water met my eyes for miles. My heart hammered. Was this my doom?

The river chilled me to the bone. My teeth chattered and I shivered. My eyes darted around. I grasped at anything floating to stall my progress. Twigs, grass, leaves slipped through my fingers. Nothing solid to hold onto. I kept my head up, treading water.

A log plowed into me and knocked me under. I kicked out and surfaced, gasping for air. I coughed and spat out a mouthful of water.

Bushes and bramble, ripped from the shoreline, drifted towards me. I climbed on top of a bush, but its needles dug into my hands, and I lost my grip. The bush weaved around me and continued down the current. Rain lashed down and made it hard to see anything.

Tears sprung to my eyes. I’m too young to die. My regret was not ever to see my father or my friends again nor to experience love. How could Varick just leave me? I sniffed and wiped the water from my eyes. One good thing if I died, Santurin can’t mock or bully me anymore. Who would he pick on then?

After some time passed, the rain ceased, and I blinked several times to view my whereabouts. Trees blurred by. Nothing looked familiar, until the jagged teeth of the gate overlooking the city of Fallow appeared ahead. My back slammed into a boulder and knocked the wind from me.

To my surprise, my fishing line tangled around that huge rock and the hook still pierced a big trout. The pole bounced with each wave. I held onto the boulder with one hand and leaned back, removing my knife from the side pocket of my boot. I cut the line and grasped the trout before it fell.

I glanced around. The river lowered the closer it neared Fallow and I waded to shore. Water dripped from my clothes. My boots sloshed and crunched across gravel. I sat down on a tree stump, with the fish in my lap, and dumped the water from my boots. My toes curled from the chilly air and goosebumps formed on my arms. I wrung out my clothes and my hair.

Smoke puffed in the sky, and with it a putrid odor. I don’t know what the scientists were up to, but it couldn’t be good. Dad banished them here after they refused to abide his laws, and they continued in their strange experiments and with chemicals.

When our people first arrived on Planet Xan, my great-great- great grandfather used the people of Fallow to mine the minerals and ore to build our fortress and our airships. Together the slaves and the scientists bore a hatred for the Azurins. I had to get out of here fast. My boots squished as I strode down the path. I had miles to cover to get home. The mud from the road clung to me. If nothing else, it...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 24.8.2023
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Kinder- / Jugendbuch
• ISBN-13: 979-8-3509-1650-8 / 9798350916508